Wire insulating machine



Patented Sept. 7, 1937 UNiTED sTATEs PATENT oi-FlcE 2,092,074 WIRE INSULATING MACHINE My inven machines a John J. Keyes,

Pittsburgh, Pa., assgnor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 5, 1935, Serial No. 25,122

9 Claims.

tion relates, generally, to wrapping nd, more particularly, to wrapping machines which may be utilized to wrap covering materials around electrical conductors or other ocres of similar types.

The primary stated, is to provide wrapping thin strips of object of my invention, generally improved apparatus for brous or other cellulose material around electrical conductors or other cores of similar types.

In accordance with the general features of my invention, oneof the objects thereof is to provide means for supporting a core at the point where mate to a wiping rial is being wrapper around it and after it is wrapped, action by utilizing a serving device an opening .through which a slct through which the tangentially on the surface of the core.

Another object of my invention is to provide for supporting a core while it is being wrapped with a material and for subjecting the material,

after it is wrapped, to a wiping ing a serving device action by utilizcomprising a longitudinal member which is so constructed as to encompass more than one-half of the circumference of the core and so gentially on shaped as to direct the material .tan-

the core.

A broad object of my invention is to provide for producing a` wiping action on the insulation being wrapped on a conductor by a force that does not decrease with increased speed of the wrapping head of a conductor-wrapping machine.

A further a one-piece object of my invention is to provide speed-responsive wiper, or presser,

on a serving device of a conductor-wrapping machine.

A still further object of my invention is to provide for adjustably varying the pressure of a presser, or ironer, of a conductor-wrapping machine lt is also an object of my invention to increase the pressure oi' a presser, or ironer,

tor-Wrappin the serving means for the insulation to be g machine Another broad object of my invention is to vary the pressure o a presser, or ironer, of a conductor-wrapping machine so that the pressure may be increased, if speed, remain constant, or be desired, with increases of decreased with increases of speed of the serving means for the wire, or con ductor, or other core.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become more apparent from a study of the following specication, when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 5

Figure 1 is a iront elevational view of a corewrapping machine embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the serving device and presser, or ironer, of the wrapping head of the wrapping machine, and illustrates how the presser is placed on the serving device during the mounting o the presser;

Fig. 3 is a similarly enlarged side view of the serving device and presser, showing the presser in the position indicated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a still more enlarged sectional view taken along the section line IV-IV shown in Fig. l, looking in the direction oi the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan View of a modied presser or ironer.

Although my invention is capable of other applications than that hereinafter discussed, it is particularly useful for applying a coating-the coating comprising a binding agent and narrow 20 strips of fibrous or other material, or comprising strip material onlyto a moving core, thereby eiecting a covering for the core which will stand distortion without disruption when the core is bent or elongated. 0

Referring now to the drawing, the reference character l designates, generally, a panel and 2 a base upon which the various parts of my machine may be mounted. As shown, the supply reel 3 and the take-up reel 4 are each rotatably 35 mounted upon transversely disposed shafts which are mounted upon the base portion. The remaining parts which constitute my wrapping machine, are mounted on the panel I.

In order to provide for withdrawing the core 5 from the supply reel 3 and bringing it into cooperative relation with a wrapping head E, whereby the covering material may be wrapped helically around the core, a capstan 1, driven by a constant speed motor or a variable speed motor 8, as the service may require, is provided. As shown, the motor likewise drives the wrapping head 6 and the take-up reel The capstan l comprises a pulley having a V-shaped circumferential groove around which the moving core is wrapped one or more times in order to insure sufficient fricticnal engagement to withdraw the core from the supply reel 3.

A gear unit Si is provided for the purpose of 5 varying the speed at which the core may be l@ comprising a V13', a Speed equal to drawn through the wrapping head in relation to the speed of rotation of the latter, thereby varying the helical angle at which the material is being wrapped around the core. The gear unit is disposed to receive a plurality of sets of gear wheels, (not shown) whereby the gear ratio may be changed to accommodate any desired operating condition. l

As will be readily observed, for the purpose of insuring good results ingwrapping the material upon the core, it is necessary to maintain the core under slight tension, as it is being wrapped. To accomplish this end, I provideV a friction brake Ypivotally mounted lever il, a spring l2 surrounding a screw stud I3 and located beneath the free end of the lever and resting upon a nut i 4 which is Yadjustablymounted on the screw stud i3. As shown, the frictional engagement may be varied to effect any desired core tension byadjusting the tension of the spring l2 by turning the threaded nut ill.

In View of the fact that the take-up reel 4 must be driven at a higher speed when the reel isY is full, a frictionaldriveV empty than when the reel I5 comprising a plurality of frictional plates, is utilized. Inasmuch as the take-up reel must be driven at a lower Speed than the speed at which the motor normally operates, a gear reduction unit i6 is provided.

The wrapping head 6, in which the greater part of my invention resides, comprises, Vgenerally, meansV for feeding and means for wrapping a covering material upon said core.

In the wrapping head 6, the reference character l'l designates, generally, a casing in which is rotatably mounted a spindle i8 having a longitudinal opening through which the core passes.V The spindle is driven at a high speed by the motor 8 through gear wheels i9 and 2e. The lower portion of the spindle is rotatably mounted in the casing Il by anti-friction ball bearings, not shown. The middle portion of the spindle is designed to carry a supply of material which is wound on a spool 2l, while the upper portion is adapted to drive a serving device 22 which serves to wrap the material around the core. The shank 23 of the serving device may be detachably connected to the upper end of the spindle by any suitable means, such, for example, as a coupling 24 having intertting parts.

In View of the fact that the face plate 25 is driven at very high speed, it is provided with a suitable. depending central flange portion, not shown, whereby it may be securely, yet rotatably, mounted in the casing l'l.

The spool 2l, upon which the supply material is wound, must also rotate at a high speed, namethe speed at which the face plate 25 rotates, plus a speed determined by the speed at-which the material is being withdrawn from the spool 2|. The spool is, therefore, so mounted as to provide frictionally restrained relative rotational movement between the face plate and the spool.

As the material is withdrawn from the supply source, it is directed upon a serving device 22, which serves to wrap the material helically around the moving core. Inasmuch rial is wrapped around the core Linder a slight tension, in order to attain good results, it is necessary to provide means to support the moving core as the material is being wrapped. In

' order to accomplish this purpose, the serving device comprises a longitudinal member having-an opening 2, through which the core passes. As

as the matewill be observed from Figs'. 2, 3 and 4, the walls of Vthe opening 26 not only support the core but also serve to give the material a wiping action after it is wrapped around the core.

, While the serving device does give the Vmaterial a wiping action, nogparticular pressure is exerted upon the materialas it is being wrapped and the pressure with which the material grips the core would thus be determined entirely7 by the tension in the material. Since the material should not be subjected to too-great a tension, and. further, since the necessary pressing or ironing action or wiping operation in the direction of the wrapping of the core must be greater for most eilicient application or" the coating than could be produced by subjecting the material to tension, wrapping heads are provided with pressers or ironers which, so to speak, iron the material on the core in the direction of the wrapping operation, thereby causing all of the minute areas of the wrapping material to pass into rni contact `with the core over all the minute areas of the core. Y Y

With the Wipers or ironers heretoforeutilized, the force exerted against the core and the coating could not be maintained uniform nor adjusted to any desired value. creased speeds of the serving device and because the centrifugal forces of the coating and the adhesive, if an adhesive is used, become greater, the need for more firmly pressing ,the material against a core becomes greater. It isfordinarily desirable to iron the material or the coating on the core with a substantially constant force. In some instances it is preferable to increase the ironing force with increased speeds of the wrapping head. With the devices heretofore in use, such constant force or selectable variable force could not be secured since pressures were mounted to be spring-biased against the core.

My novel presser comprisesV a one-piece member 3l disposed about the upper end of the serving device 22 and so designed as Yto increase the force of the ironingoperation with increases in speed of the serving device 22 vto maintain it constant, when desired, with increases in speed, orto decrease the force with increases in speed.

The special server I have devised is Vclearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. It will be noted that the member 3| is provided with a slot having a narrow portion 29 and a wider portion 36. Further, the slot is disposed toward one end so as to make the presser member 3l somewhat more bulky and of greater weight at the region32.

The server22 is provided with Varste'm portion 21 having a head 2S, one'face thereof including the axis of the server In mounting the presser, the member S! is slipped over the head portion 28, as shown inY Fig. 2, and then'turned through an angle of 90 so that the somewhat narrower upper portion of the server passes between the narrow portions 2Q of the slot. It will thus be apparent thatV the member removed except by shifting the narrow portion 29 away from the upper stem portion 27 and turning the member back through the 90 angle.

3 i cannot be Y Accidental lcss of the presser member 3i cannot, 7

of the speed o1" oppressing actionfor ironingY operation occurs over `anarrcw region parallel to the axis of the core. This will be aptherethrough. The

parent from a study of Fig.` 4, showing the presser member positioned withl reference to the core and thecoating being applied to the core.

Since the heavy portion 32 is mounted eccentrically with reference to the axis of the core, the ironing operation will normally be effected with greater and greater force as the speed of the server increases. Thus the centrifugal forces of the coating and the adhesive are more than compensated for.

To further improve the operation, particularly for certain types of insulation and certain sety speeds of the server, the weighted end 3210i the presser member 3| is provided with a threaded cylinder in which may be positioned a screw 33. By shifting the posit-ion of the screw 33, the ironing force may be adjusted to any value desired for a given speed within the range of the movement of the screw 33. Further, if less force is required for higher speeds, adjustment of the screw will accomplish this.

The ironer, contrary to devices heretofore used for this purpose, comprises a substantially onepiece structure, eliminates any springs for producing a force on the coating and improves the ironing operation by reason of the fact that the pressure for a given adjustment of the screw does not decrease with increased speeds of the server 22. The pressure with reference to the core for any given speed may be adjusted to remain substantially constant or may be adjusted to any desired value, depending upon the design of the presser member, and also upon the position of' the screw 33.

With the embodiments shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 the member 3l must be threaded on the core or wire when the wrapping operation is to be started. Occasions do arise when the ironer or presser is to be removed after the winding operation has progressed for some time.

Fig. 5 shows a presser 4G provided with a slot 4i. The size of this slot or opening 4| is made just big enough to permit the largest core and insulation, a given server 22 is to receive, to pass ironer or presser may thus be removed and replaced without requiring a cutting of the core. In other words, the core need not be threaded through the presser but can be hooked thereon, but otherwise is moved in position on the server exactly as the presser shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4.

While the illustrated example constitutes a practical embodiment of my invention, I do not limit myself strictly to the exact details herein illustrated, since the structure may be considerably varied without of the invention, as claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a serving device for a machine utilized for wrapping material upon a moving core, in combination, a main body member having a longitudinal opening through which the core travels, the wall of said opening constituting a support departing from the spirit dened in the appended for the core, one end of said body member being disposed to be connected to the wrapping machine, the other end being provided with a slot through which the material enters the opening, one surface of the slot having such arcuate form as to direct the material tangentially upon the core, means carried by the body member for directing the material upon the arcuate surface and a demountable centrifugal presser member disposed to produce an ironing operation on the material being wrapped on the core, the presser member having means for changing the position of its center of gravity to thus adjust the centrifugal force thereof on the material for a given speedl of the serving device.

2. In a serving for wrapping material upon a moving core, in combination, a main body member having a longitudinal opening through which the core travels, the wall of said opening constituting a support for the core, one end of said body member being disposed to be connected tothe wrapping machine, the other end being provided with a slot through which the material enters the opening, one surface of the slot having such arcuate form as to direct the material tangentialiy upon the core, means carried by the body member for directing the material upon the arcuate surface, centrifugal means to press the core, after it is wrapped, against a portion of the body member, thereby subjecting the tion that increases in eiect with increases in speed of the material, and means for adjusting the range of the centrifugal force for a given range of speed of operation of the core wrapping machine.

3. In a serving device for a machine utilized for wrapping material upon a moving core, in combination, a main hollow stern for receiving said core, one end of said stem being connected to the wrapping machine, the other end having a relatively narrow slit extending to the hollow portion of the stem whereby the stem is so corr structed as to encompass more than one-half of the circumference of the core and one edge of the slit being so shaped as to direct the material tangentially upon the core, and a weight loosely device for a machine utilized:4

material to a wiping ac mounted on said other end and surrounding said stem, the center of gravity of said weight being eccentric and shiftable with reference to the core, and said weight being adapted to engage the core to produce a wiping action on the material being wrapped upon the core.

4. A serving device of a machine, utilized for wrapping material on a core, comprising a cylindricalmember having an axial openingthrough which the core passes, a slit along a portion of the member, said slit having one substantially radial face and one convex face whereby the material to be wrapped is guided tangentially on the core, a reduced portion at one end designed to expose substantially half of the arcuate core surface; and a loop-like weight loosely mounted at the end of the member and adapted to produce an ironing action on the core substantially proportional to the speed of the member.

5. A serving device for a machine utilized for wrapping material on a core, comprising a cylindrical member having an axial opening through which the core passes, a slit along a portion of the member, said slit having one substantially radial face and one convex face whereby the material to be wrapped is guided tangentially on to the core, a generally polygonal end portion designed to expose substantially half of the arcuate core surface; a loop like weight having an inner shape corresponding somewhat to the polygonal shape of the member mounted loosely at the end of the member but by reason of its polygonal shape designed to rotate with said member and thus adapted to produce an ironing action on the core substantially proportional to the speed of the member, and means for shifting the center of gravity of said weight with reference to the axis of said member to thus adjust the ironing action of the weight on the core member.

Vto the core, a generally polygonal end portionY 6. A serving device for a machine utilized for Wrapping material on a core, Vcomprising a cylindrical member having an axial openingthrough which the core passes, a slit along a portion Vof the member, said slit having one substantially radial face and one convex faoe'whereby thematerial to be wrapped is guided tangentially on to the core, a generally polygonal end portion designed to expose-substantially half of the arcuate core surface; and a loop like weight open at one side ofthe loop loosely mounted on the reduced portion of said member and. having corresponding engaging surfaces to thus rotate with the member When mounted thereonV to produce anironing action on the core substantially proportional to the Vspeed ofthe member.

r'7. A serving device for a machine utilized for Wrapping material on a core, comprising a cylindricalmember having an axial openingthrough Which the core passes, a slit along a portion of the member, said slit having one substantially radial face and one convex face whereby the material to be Wrapped is guided tangentially on designed to expose substantially half of the arcuate core surface; and a loop like weight open at one side of the loop loosely mounted on the reduced portion of said member and having corresponding engaging surfaces to thus rotate with the member when mounted thereon to produce an ironing action on the core substantially proportional to the speed ofthe member, and means for shifting the position of the center of gravity of said loop like Weight with reference to the axis of said member. Y

8. A serving device for a machine utilized for Wrapping material on a core, comprising a cylindricalmember having an axial openingthrough which the core passes during the Wrapping oper'- ation, a slit along a portion of the member, said slit having one substantially arcuate face to guide the material being wrapped on the core tangentially of the core, anon-cylindrical end portion for the member designed to expose substantially half of the arcuate core surface and a loop like Weight having a complementary end section in the bight of one of the loops for engaging the non-cylindrical end portion tional to the speed of the member. Y

9. A serving device for a machine utilized forY wrapping material on a core, comprising a cyhaving an axial opening through which the core passes during the wrapping operation, a slit along a portion of the member, said slit having one substantially radial face and one arcuate face to guide the material being Wrapped on the core tangentially of the core, a non-cylindrical end portion for the member designed to expose substantially half of the arcuate core sur--l face and a loop like Weight having a comple` mentary end section in the bight of one of the "loops for engaging the non-cylindrical end portion whereby said loop like member is caused to Y JOHN J. KEYES. 'l

radial face andl one 

